Supporting free trade is out of fashion. In rich countries, it has been blamed for job losses and all but abandoned by policymakers. Over the past century, trade had been increasing as a percentage of the entire global economy, but this peaked around the Global Financial Crisis and is now declining. This is true for the Philippines as well, where trade has dropped from a peak of 88 percent of the economy 20 years ago to 64 percent today. This is regrettable because ensuring freer trade turns out to be one of the world's best development policies.

https://opinion.inquirer.net/162183/free-trade-helps-improve-lives-incomes

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